Let’s begin by stating the obvious, I have bad knees. Like, not your average ‘my knees crack when I stand up’ bad knees, but your ‘I’m on my seventh knee surgery’ bad knees. After three ACL tears and trashed meniscus on both legs, I’m constantly on the look out for a good knee brace like some women stay on the hunt for the perfect little black dress. A knee brace that’s not too bulky, but offers good support. Is durable but still comfortable. A knee brace that is hopefully going to keep me out enjoying the things that I love and out of hospital beds. I’ve cycled through all different shapes and sizes of knee braces over the years, but I’ve finally found one that has restored my confidence to stay active, bad knees and all.
Headquartered in Japan, Zamst is medical device and healthcare company that has been engineering products for active people since 1973. The company’s ZK-7 knee brace is a pull-on brace that offers four-way support for ligaments of the knee plus a built-in kneecap stabilizer. Unlike typical knee braces for severe knee injuries, the ZK-7 uses resin stays for medial and lateral support versus a series of metal rods and hinges. This change allows for more movement in the knee while not giving up the desired support. An x-strap below the kneecap also makes the brace customizable to each knee.
Pros: The ZK-7 is definitely durable. It’s survived numerous dives on a softball infield without any tearing. And the brace retails for $79.99, which is more than reasonable for the quality and protection provided by the well-designed brace. Made with a lightweight, breathable and non-slip material, the brace essentially becomes part of your leg. No tugging or pulling needed to keep the brace in place. But perhaps the best feature of this brace is the mobility factor. To gain protection and peace of mind without feeling restricted, is crucial.
Cons: The ZK-7 is so lightweight, it can feel like you’re not wearing anything at all, which can be a little unnerving. Having come to rely on the feeling of a bulky brace, it took a little while to wrap my head around the fact that even though I couldn’t feel the brace, it was still providing excellent support.
Where I took It: Softball fields in Colorado and snowboarding in Red River, New Mexico.
